Final answer:
Abolitionists were instrumental in publishing and disseminating slave narratives, aiming to alter the conscience of the American public against slavery using mass printing, autobiographies like those of Frederick Douglass, and organized advocacy such as petitions to Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Role of Abolitionists in Slave Narratives
Abolitionists played a crucial role in the development and publication of slave narratives which were pivotal in gaining public sympathy and support for the anti-slavery movement. By harnessing steam-powered printing and mass communication, abolitionists circulated pamphlets, newspapers, and books that highlighted the brutal realities of slavery, thus engaging the moral conscience of the northern population. They strategically used the United States Postal Service to spread their message and organized extensive petition campaigns to Congress, urging the end of slavery. Figures such as Frederick Douglass rose to prominence as a result of their eloquent oratory and compelling autobiographical accounts of life as slaves which were widely read, reprinted, and translated into multiple languages.
The abolitionists' commitment to moral suasion aimed to persuade slaveholders to emancipate their slaves by appealing to their sense of Christian conscience, presenting a vision of national redemption through racial equality. By organizing antislavery societies, establishing schools, and fostering interracial cooperation, abolitionists worked to undermine the pervasive racism and discrimination of their times. Their radical approach laid the groundwork for the growth of antislavery sentiment, shaped public opinion, and ultimately contributed to the historical emergence of antislavery politics, exemplified by the Republican Party and the eventual presidency of Abraham Lincoln.